Here at Bedico Creek Preserve, we are about information for our builders, our buyers, our homeowners, our partners, and our vendors. If you are looking for a dependable source of information about real estate in Southeast Louisiana, specifically the Greater New Orleans area, please use our blog as much and as often as possible to read informative and timely real estate information. We promise you, you won’t be disappointed!

Know What To Spend On Housing

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Today’s mortgage rates are still rising and will remain high for the foreseeable future. It is harder these days to know how much to spend on housing. When there is such demand, it is easy to jump the gun which can hinder you financially. Here are some rules the professionals say to follow when it comes to buying or renting a home.

The 30% Rule

This is a popular and common rule that is followed to decide if a certain home is affordable for you. The 30% rule is easy to follow, just do not spend more than 30% of your gross income on housing. Housing expenses are more than just your rent or mortgage payment. When figuring out how much your housing expenses are, if you are a homeowner, you will need to factor in your utilities, mortgage interest rate, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes and HOA fees or if you are a renter, include renter’s insurance and other fees from your landlord.

The 28/36 Rule

This rule is just for homeowners only. You will be covered in two ways with this rule. Your housing expenses which include your mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance and utilities cannot be more than 28% of your gross monthly income. Your total debt which includes credit cards, student loans, and auto loans, cannot go over 36% of your gross monthly income.

Don’t get stuck with real estate regret. If you are looking for a new home either by purchasing one or renting one, you need to contact your local real estate agent. A local real estate agent can help you determine what is right for you.

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Smart Advice on Buying a Home During the Holidays

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The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. Everyone is in the holiday mode of the hustle and bustle so buying a house might not be the number one thing on their mind. If you are in the mindset of purchasing a home this holiday season, here are some tips on what to do.

Anticipate and Plan for Delays

A lot of people take time off during the holidays from work, so it might delay the process when it comes to the ins and outs of purchasing a home. This could include lenders, home inspectors, contractors, and moving companies. You will need to be a bit more flexible when it comes to your purchase.

Recognize the Seriousness of Holiday Buyers and Sellers

Most people will put off home buying until after the New Year. Some sellers do not want to show their home during the holiday season, so they might pull their listing for the holiday season. If you do find a seller that lists during the holidays, then this means they are serious about selling fast. This means that you can be more aggressive with negotiations.

Be Prepared for a Limited Housing Inventory

As mentioned earlier, sellers will pull their listings during the holidays. This means that there will be a short supply of listings to choose from. You will need to be a bit more proactive in your search. Obtaining a pre-approval letter will let sellers know you are a serious buyer.

Be Flexible with Your Schedule

During the busy holiday season, you might have a bit of leeway in your work and school schedule. Take advantage of this time to see listings and talk with real estate professionals. Remember those in the industry might also want to take some time off, so that can be an obstacle you face.

Delay Your Move if Needed

Even if you find your dream home during the holidays, this does not mean you have to close and move in on Christmas Day. Negotiate your move-in date, sellers will be willing to work with you.

Remember having a local real estate agent who knows the ins and outs of purchasing a home is very beneficial. Those experienced agents know what it takes to buy during the holiday season.

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Gotta Get Some Curb Appeal

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When it comes to curb appeal, your house will thank you-and so will your neighbors. The curb appeal of your home is the first impression that visitors get and there is only one chance for a first impression. That is why curb appeal is so important. “There are two primary emotive things that happen when you come across the kind of residence you appreciate. One is, Gosh, I would love to own that. That’s more ego-driven. The one I love the most is when I think, It must be wonderful in there,” says Bobby McAlpine, an Atlanta architect.

Curb appeal became very important, especially during the pandemic. Curb appeal is more than just window boxes and white picket fences nowadays. “Light and shadow are an architect’s most important tools when it comes to thinking about exteriors,” says architect Nicholas Potts. Another important factor is the greenery surrounding the exterior. You want to use the grass and plants that work best in your environment. For example, if you live in a desert environment you will want to use low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants.

Remember curb appeal is a must when it comes to the exterior appearance of your home and your property. “It gives itself over just like a person would. It’s going to be the light in their eyes,” states McAlpine. Your curb appeal must look in place in the area it is. “The facade needs to relate to where we are,” says designer Suzanne Kasler.

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Tips From the Professional on How To Declutter Before a Move

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It is reported that around twenty-two million people moved in the US in 2021. A move is a move whether it is across town or in the US. When moving, it is always a good idea to declutter before packing and moving your home.

This can become very important when hiring movers because movers will charge by weight. You want to size down the amount of stuff you are moving to your new home. Here are steps to take before backing your moving boxes.

1. Plan ahead

Everyone accumulates stuff over their lifetime. This includes kitchenware, linens, photos, tools, and much much more. “If you start early, you can take it slow. Physically, it’s hard work but it’s also emotionally exhausting. It’s the equivalent of your life flashing before your eyes,” comments Jennifer Dwight, a Hawaii-based professional organizer with Ideal Organizing + Design. Decluttering will take some time so set several weeks or longer aside to do this.

2. Go room by room

By going room by room, you are taking a more organized approach. While many of us will want to declutter some in the kitchen, then move on to a closet and then to the garage, this is not productive. “The benefit of tackling one room at a time is that you can better evaluate completion,” organizer Nicole Gabai, the founder of B. Organized says. “You can clearly look around that one room and double-check that you have gotten rid of everything you possibly can from that one room before moving on to the next.”

3. Make easy decisions first

Treasured items are harder to declutter because of the memories and emotions that are linked to them. This can make the process seem very overwhelming. Start with simple things that are easy decisions such as expired food, old utility bills, or clothes that don’t fit. “This is the ‘first pass,’ ” Gabai says. “You’ll go through that same room one or two more times to honestly assess how much you need to bring to your next home.”

4. Skip the ‘maybe’ pile

Do not have a maybe pile, there can be no gray areas. You should have a keep, donate, sell, or toss pile. “Always, the maybe pile is the biggest pile — and all you’re doing is putting off a hard decision,” Mary Kay Buysse, co-executive director of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers explains. “Be brutal with yourself and make those decisions.”

5. Get a floor plan

Before you move into your new home, get a copy of the floor plan. This way you can plan out the space and see what fits and looks good. This is a great way to be able to determine what to donate, toss or sell.

6. Get your Kids involved

In this day in age, a lot of things are not handed down like they used to be. “Up until the last generation, it was always a given that things were going to be handed down,” says Dwight. When decluttering get your kids’ input on what they would like to keep or toss.

Remember decluttering can be a hard and arduous task. There are professionals that you can hire. “When it all becomes too overwhelming, it might be time to bring in a professional organizer who specializes in move management,” says Gabai. “It can help you create a timeline with achievable goals to prepare you for the move day. They will hold you accountable and help you evaluate what to keep and what to toss or donate.”

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Home Maintenance Tasks To Complete Before Winter

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The fall brings cooler weather, shorter days, and many fun holidays to celebrate. Before the weather gets too cold and dreary, take care of some essential home maintenance. Here is a list, from the professionals, on what to take on.

1. Inspect and Clean Gutters and Downspouts

During the fall the leaves change colors and then start to fall to the ground. This means that your gutters can easily become clogged with the falling leaves. Clogged gutters will cause water buildup and damage to your house’s foundation. You want to make sure to clean out all of the debris from your gutters and downspouts this fall.

2. Check the Roof

You do not have to take a ladder and climb up on your roof to inspect it. You can do a visual inspection and look for any loose or damaged shingles. Repairing the loose or damaged shingles will prevent your roof from leaking and water damage.

3. Seal Windows and Doors

The winter time is a time when it is both cold and windy. A home with cool drafts coming through cracks is not good for your comfort or your heating bill. This fall inspect the seals that are around all of your windows and doors. If the sealant looks worn and is coming off, replace and repair it.

4. Service Your Heating System

Having your heating system fail during the cold winter months is not acceptable. Before the cold kicks in, have a professional come and inspect your heating system. They will fix any issues and also perform maintenance such as replacing filters.

5. Chimney and Fireplace Maintenance

This is a serious issue because it can start fires. Make sure that your chimney and flute are clean and in working order. If your chimney is blocked, this is when a fire can happen.

6. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The fall is a great time to test and replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It is very important for these to work when the power goes out to keep your family safe.

7. Drain and Store Outdoor Hoses and Insulate Pipes

If the temperature drops below freezing, any water left in your hose will freeze and cause damage. Take your hoses in for the winter to extend their lifespan. You will also want to insulate any pipes that are exposed to the outdoor elements. These could freeze and burst and can cause a lot of damage.

8. Lawn Prep and Storage For Outdoor Furniture

You will want to trim back trees and any bushes that are close to your home. Any branches close to your home can cause damage during storms. It is also a good idea to clean and store your outdoor furniture. Doing this will extend your outdoor furniture’s lifespan.

Remember doing these tasks each fall will make a great difference in the safety and maintenance of your home. You want to stay proactive and not just reactive when it comes to taking care of your home during the cold winter season.

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Cool Your Home Off With These Insider Ideas

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Living in the South can be brutal during those hot summer months. In fact, during the month of July, Mayor LaToya Cantrell called and emergency declaration “to focus on health and safety within the community.” So how do you keep your home cool during these hot times? Here are some insider tools of the trade.

Don’t lose your cool

A home is not perfect but there is one that can come pretty darn close to being perfect. The LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Home and Landscape Center is the perfect example of solutions for Louisiana’s climate.  It’s a special kind of model home strategically designed to showcase solutions for Louisiana’s climate. The LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Home and Landscape Resource Center is a permanent, high-performance housing educational exhibit, attraction and outreach program.

As for your home, a place where you do lose air is through duct leaks and return leaks. You will want to test your ducts and make sure they are sealed properly. In order to do this, you will need to hire a trained professional to test for leaks. If there are leaks, then they will come in and seal them with mastic.

“Duct leaks and return leaks can have a huge impact on cooling bills, comfort, indoor air quality and dustiness of the home,” says Claudette Hanks Reichel, LSu LaHouse professor.

Another thing you should always do is have your HVAC system routinely checked by a professional. A professional will come in each season to make service your unit. In between services, you will need to check your filter to make sure it does not need to be changed.

Take it from the top

Your roof is a place where you can lose your cool air. A vented attic can become hotter than the outdoor temperature. A good way to avoid this is to seal your attic by filling in air leaks in the ceiling, chimney and other bypasses. Another option is spray foam insulation which can be put in your attic and other places in the home.

“Spray foam insulation can reduce electric bills by a third and is much more resistant to mold, especially compared to fiberglass insulation. On the exterior, choosing a lighter-colored roof or adding a reflective roof coating can reduce the heat from the sun coming through the roof, ” says Lance Dickman, of NANO Architecture and Interiors.

Be prepared to throw some shade

“Long, deep proches help shade windows and give a barrier of shade before you pass the threshold into the home,” says Dickman. Another great way to create shade on your home is to plant trees and bushes close to the house to reduce the amount of heat that comes in through the windows and walls.

Window treatments are another great way to help filter the sunlight and heat. “Some glazing treatments can cut solar gain 40 to 50% without affecting the color of the view. And upgrading to insulated windows and doors can make your home more efficient year-round,” comments Dickman.

On a side note, New Orleans has tons of homes with crawl spaces, these should not be sealed completely up. This could cause a build up of pressure which can make the walls of the crawl space cave in. If you are worried about ventilation in your crawlspace, consider a smart vent that will help in protecting the foundation of your home. “Consider Smart Vent or similar products that help protect your foundation and crawl space by allowing bidirectional water and air flow – when water is at a certain level the vent will open or close,” explains Lance Dickman of NANO LLC.

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